The ESA membership hemorrhage continues as today we learn that Crave Entertainment has parted ways with the trade organization. Their departure marks the fifth company to exit stage right, with some of the more high-profile departures including Activision-Blizzard, id Software and LucasArts.

Crave has not yet released a statement regarding their decision to leave the ESA, but money is a likely cause. It has been well-reported that the ESA has sharply increased membership dues, largely in response to the downsizing of E3 and failed attempt to move the show to San Jose, and many publishers are displeased at the new costs of doing business.

If there is any silver lining for the ESA in light of this announcement, it’s that Crave is not exactly one of the publishers who you see attached to a lot of big-name, high-profile releases. Furthermore, since the ESA still retains heavy-hitters like all three console manufacturers, EA and Take-Two (maybe the merger will go through right on the E3 show floor!), there’s no real reason to panic about shrinking membership. However, whenever a company parts ways you have to be a little concerned, so here’s hoping that the ESA is able to rectify whatever issues have been driving publishers away and, like the prodigal son, bring them back home.

Editor’s Note: Both the ESA and Crave have confirmed the publisher’s departure and GamePolitics has provided both statements.